By JULIA RAVENSCROFT

A RISLEY Prison officer who was bitten so badly by an female inmate that she had to have plastic surgery could receive a pay-out from the prison service.

Carolyn Knowles, aged 37, who has worked in the prison service for 14 years, was attacked in 1996 by the prisoner, who was serving five years for attempted murder, when she was being moved to the segregation unit after attacking a pregnant inmate.

While being transferred the prisoner attacked another officer and when Ms Knowles grabbed her arm she bit into it so hard that it went through the muscle and her jaws had to be prised apart.

It is believed that Ms Knowles then had to wait six months for the results of blood tests and underwent plastic surgery, but the bite shaped mark still remains.

Prison bosses are alleged to have failed to warn Risley Prison that the inmate had a history of violence against wardens.

The Prison Service has now accepted liability which led to the cancellation of a hearing which was due to take place in Liverpool County Court on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said: "The Prison Service accepted 100 per cent liability and is now negotiating a settlement."

Ms Knowles did not wish to comment.